Effective teachers are crucial to efforts in improving student learning in K-12 STEM education. Effective teaching may be enhanced through innovative professional development that takes into account the stage of a teacher’s career continuum and opportunities for teachers to use their knowledge and wisdom of practice in various leadership capacities. This session will: 1) explore the implications for career-long STEM teacher professional learning based on recommendations from a recent consensus study of the Board on Science Education of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; 2) introduce innovative models in interdisciplinary, entrepreneurial leadership that create high-quality, innovative, and transformative learning environments both in- and outside of the formal education environment; and 3) explore opportunities for teachers to play greater leadership roles in improving education policy and decision-making.

The session will begin with a discussion about a vision of professional learning and teacher leadership. Following this conversation, the presenters will provide overviews of three Academies’ reports:

This project is funded by the National Science Foundation, grant # 0822241, 1449550, 1650648, 1743807, and 1813076. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.